PAT Testing for Shopping Centres and Retail Estates
A shopping centre or retail estate is rarely one electrical environment. It is dozens of units under a single roof, each with its own equipment, occupier, and trading hours, which is what sets PAT testing here apart from testing a standalone shop. We work with major retail operations, and handled as one coordinated programme rather […]
A Compliance Guide to Emergency Lighting Testing
Emergency lighting is one of those building systems that has to work the first time, every time. It sits on standby for months at a stretch, and you only find out whether it works during a power cut or an evacuation. The duty to maintain it sits under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and BS 5266-1 sets out how that […]
Fire Risk Assessment for Multi-Tenant Commercial Buildings
Fire safety in a shared building is rarely one person’s job. A multi-tenant commercial building has an owner, a managing agent, and occupiers who each control their own space, so the duty is split between them. The owner or managing agent looks after the communal areas and shared escape routes, while each occupier is responsible for fire […]
EICR for Offices Frequency
For most commercial offices, the EICR (also known as fixed wire testing) is one of the longer-cycle items on the compliance calendar. Years can pass between inspections, so the certificate often sits in a folder rather than at the front of mind. The standard frequency for offices is every five years, and the engineer can recommend […]
How Long Is an EICR Valid For? Validity Periods for UK Commercial Properties
An EICR is one of the compliance dates easiest for a facilities manager to lose track of. Unlike a yearly test, the gap between inspections can run to several years, long enough for a renewal to go unnoticed. How long yours stays valid depends on the premises type and the risk level of the installation, which for most commercial […]
PAT Testing for Hotels: What the Process Actually Looks Like
PAT testing for a hotel means working through every plugged-in appliance on the property, one at a time. The engineer covers the kitchens, guest rooms, back-of-house, and public areas, running a visual inspection, the electrical tests, and a function check on each appliance, then labelling those that pass and removing any that fail. The visit can be […]
How Often Does A Fire Risk Assessment Need Reviewing?
When you have a fire risk assessment in place, it’s just as important to keep it up to date as it was to carry one out in the first place. As a general rule, the review period is once a year, with a new review needed whenever something significant changes that could affect fire safety. Higher-risk environments may need it […]
Does Your Building Need A Thermographic Survey This Year?
Hospitals don’t switch off. Nor do 24/7 logistics sites, factories with always-on distribution boards, or hotels through occupancy. For buildings like these, a thermographic survey is the only way to check the electrical installation while it stays live, picking up faults that a standard EICR cannot catch under switched-off conditions. There’s no recommended interval for it in UK guidance. The decision to book […]
What Does a Commercial EICR Actually Cover?
The quickest way to clear up what a commercial EICR actually covers is to draw one line. An EICR tests the building, not the things you plug into it. Everything hardwired through your electricity meter, including distribution boards, circuits, sockets, switches, and light fittings, sits inside the inspection. The kettle, the laptop, the paper shredder sit outside it. Once that’s clear, the rest falls […]
EICR For Offices: How Frequent Does It Need To Be?
How often does an office need an EICR? It depends on the building. The condition of your electrical installation, how the office is used, and how old the wiring is all play a part. For most offices, we recommend an EICR every five years. Older installations or buildings under heavier load can need testing sooner, […]